The Department of Education’s (DepEd) Division Office in Aklan is investigating a principal at Maloco Elementary School in Ibajay for refusing to enroll an incoming Grade 5 student. 

The principal claims the decision was due to the student’s mother’s disruptive behavior, despite the child’s academic performance.

The principal directed the student’s mother to find another school, stating that she often caused disturbances during school hours. 

The student, a consistent honor student, was not the issue, according to a report by GMA Super Radyo. 

Instead, the mother was reportedly involved in an incident where she confronted teachers about her child’s exam results, leading to heated arguments.

Despite attempts to address the issue, the mother did not cooperate, prompting the principal to involve local authorities. The mother ignored three summonses to the principal’s office.

The mother argues that the school’s actions are unjust and that her child’s education should not be affected by conflicts between the school and herself. She has called for an investigation, asserting her child’s right to education.

The DepEd Division of Aklan is examining the incident to determine if the principal’s actions were appropriate and if the student’s right to education was compromised.

The DepEd has a clear policy regarding the enrollment of students in public schools. According to DepEd Order No. 32, s. 2003, all public schools are strictly enjoined to admit all prospective Filipino pupils/students regardless of sex, creed, socio-economic status, racial or ethnic origin, residency, political and other affiliation. 

This policy is in line with the Constitutional mandate to make education accessible to all and with the corollary provision of Sec. 3, Paragraph 2, Chapter 1 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 232, otherwise known as the Education Act of 1982, which maintains equality of access to education as well as the enjoyment of the benefit of education by all citizens

The recent case in Aklan highlights the challenges schools face in balancing maintaining order and ensuring students’ access to education. 

It also raises questions about how schools handle conflicts with parents and the impact on students. The investigation’s outcome will set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future.